LogFAQs > #951537817

Serious Sam 4 (PC)

I knew this game was in the making but I didn't expect it to come out so soon. I guess it has been awhile. SS4 is basically a more polished SS3; that is, it takes the modern shooter and gives it that retro shine. It fixes all the complaints from the terrible transition to modern the last game did, but also added quite alot and unlike the direction Doom Eternal went, the changes here served to make things a little more arcadey if not upbeat. Having played this, I don't think I can go back to Second Encounter. It was fun mowing hoards in the 2000s, but this has a bit more style going to it.

SS4 brings alot to the table and I was surprised my machine could handle literal hoards of enemies. I don't know how they did it, because Warriors Orochi 4 was impossible to run on my end and yet in this game thousands upon thousands of High-Quality mooks were popping up very smooth and that's not even including all the gibs and explosions. There was even 2 maps set in the French Countryside that had you driving around vast environments with an equally vast number of enemies to destroy. I always thought to myself playing The Talos Principle, wouldn't it be great if Serious Sam had these graphics and NOT set itself in Egypt all the time? This is that dream come true!

I can't believe the game has 15 levels. Like I swear I was only playing 8-10 of them. Now I want more. They just *have* to release a map editor/custom levels/workshop. It would make this game last longer just as Second Encounter did in the 2000s. I also like the fact that its set before SS3, aka when humanity was still present. You actually get to talk to people in this game and though they have shallow personalities and tired jokes, this isn't really a serious game ironically so thats fine. And finally being a prequel's prequel, you actually do get to win the war this time. Without knowing humanity's fate in the end, you know this game has you setback Mental's forces.

A couple of things though: Most of the secrets require some really good acrobatics which would be fine if the physics weren't so jank. And even at that, you'll usually just find the health (and later revival) gadget which is great but there are like 5+ gadgets in the game and they're all very cool; something this shooter sorely needed was options! Why couldn't gadgets be a common (but rare/paced) drop. You got a Black Hole, a thingie that slows down time and makes you faster, Rage Juice, Drone Helpers...and none of those come into play in the final act. Seriously.

Definitely a fun run and gunner and in 2021 of all things. Better with friends!

---

It's not so cliche anymore when it's happening to you.